What’s Wrong With Hunny?

[13Tskhmaster]

Hello, everyone. I am concerned about my new bunny, Hunny Nugget. 

Hunny is about four months old. She seems to love cuddling and being held. She grinds her teeth happily when she is in my arms, and she sometimes snuggles up to me when we are outside playing. If Hunny gets spooked, she runs to me for protection. To say she and I have a special bond is an understatement. 

That said, I fear our bond went away this evening. Hunny and I shared an evening outside, and as I was putting her back in her cage, she started to squirm and leaped from my hands. She then fell about six inches and landed with a loud “thud” on the bedding-covered cage bottom below. 

Immediately, I started to panic. I was worried Hunny had injured herself because a broken leg is what forced me to have my last rabbit, a sweet “old lady” named Lucy, euthanized back in May. I watched Hunny, and she seemed to be fine. She was eating normally, drinking normally, and moving normally. However, I could not shake my worry because I knew rabbits hide their pain to protect themselves. I tried petting Hunny a few times, and she ground her teeth softly, but I feared this was the “in pain” variant of the behavior, so I stopped. 

I left Hunny alone to recuperate for a little while, and when I went out to see her afterwards for our nightly cuddle, she refused to be picked up. She started squirming the moment she felt her body leave the cage bottom, something she has never done before. This sudden behavioral change is making me even more worried: Is Hunny hurt? Is our bond wrecked because she feels I betrayed her safety when she had her rough landing? Any consolation and advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated!

[Sirius&Luna]

She’s probably just scared because she fell last time you were holding her, so she doesn’t want to be held again.
Keep making sure that shes eating, pooping and hopping normally, but it doesn’t sound like she’s injured, just wary.

[Bam]

The fall might have scared her, as Sirius&Luna says. But she’s also at that age when a rabbit enters puberty and nolonger wants to be held or lifted. The change in a girl rabbit starting puberty can be very swift. From sweet and cuddly baby to suspicious, even fearful or aggressive, teenager over night.

Anyway, a bond between bun and human doesn’t break because of one incident like the one you had. And if she tooth-purred softly, she probably enjoyed being pet. Tooth-grinding with pain isn’t soft, it’s choppy and quite loud.

[13Tskhmaster]

Thank you for your responses! Hunny seems fine; she snuggled up to me yesterday, and it made me feel really special. My worst enemies where she is concerned are my over-worrying and guilt. I think I made her situation out to be a lot worse than it was…

Hunny still doesn’t let me hold her anymore; I miss doing so but understand she has probably grown out of it. Thank you, again, for your support!

P.S. – I do have some questions relating to Hunny Nugget’s care now that she is getting older. May I ask those questions here, or should I make a new post?

[Bam]

I’m glad she’s being snuggly ?
I think you’ll get more answers if you start a new thread for your other questions. People tend to get curious about new threads But there’s no rule against continuing on your own thread, so it’s completely your choice.

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